Mark Selby has suffered another early exit at the World Snooker Championship, losing in the first round for the second consecutive year. The four-time world champion was beaten 10-8 by fellow Leicester player Ben Woollaston in a tense encounter at the Crucible.
Selby, 41, entered the tournament with high hopes after winning three titles this season. However, he struggled throughout the match, hindered by cue tip problems that forced a replacement before the second session. He managed just one break over 40 in the evening session as Woollaston came from 5-4 down to win six of the final nine frames.
For Woollaston, this was only his second appearance at the Crucible. His first came in 2013, when he lost in the opening round. This time, watched by his wife Tatiana and son Edward, the world number 44 held his nerve in the final frames to secure the biggest win of his 22-year career. He now faces Si Jiahui in round two, starting Saturday night.
“Without a doubt, it’s my best ever win,” said Woollaston, who is now guaranteed £30,000. “I beat Mark Williams to reach the Welsh Open final in 2015, but this is far bigger. Mark didn’t play his best, but I still had to work hard to beat him, especially here.”
Woollaston added that he won key safety exchanges and stayed mentally strong throughout the match. “People might say his head was gone, but I made it hard for him and that’s why he got frustrated,” he said. “If I can play better, I believe I can go further.”
The match swung back and forth throughout the evening session. Woollaston took the lead at 6-5 with a break of 58. Selby responded with a brilliant clearance in the next frame to level at 6-6, appearing to shift momentum. But Woollaston regained control, winning two of the next three frames to go 8-6 up.
Selby clawed back to 8-7 but struggled for position in the 16th, allowing Woollaston to produce breaks of 49 and 39 to edge closer at 9-7. Selby hit back with an 81 to stay in it, but frame 18 proved decisive. It lasted 46 minutes and Selby was leading 37-13 before missing a red. Woollaston seized the chance with a counter of 32 and a clever snooker to seal the match.
Selby, who lifted the world title in 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2021, offered a frank assessment. “I was pathetic from start to finish. I didn’t show up and didn’t deserve to win. Ben’s safety was unbelievable and had me in trouble. I love him to bits — I’ve seen him progress since we were kids.”
He admitted the loss soured an otherwise successful season. “I’ve won titles, but this puts a dampener on the year. I want to win more Triple Crown events, so this is very disappointing.”
Elsewhere, John Higgins and Xiao Guodong ended their second-round opener level at 4-4. Higgins, fresh off wins at the World Open and Tour Championship, led 3-1 after breaks of 131, 62, and 54. Xiao responded strongly after the interval with a 114 and took the next two frames to lead 4-3. Higgins finished the session with a 79 to even the match ahead of Friday afternoon’s continuation.
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